Calvert Sheriff’s Police Beat / Jawboning Speeder Adrian Hall Stirs Up Social Media Backlash Due to False Drug Alert When Calvert Deputies ‘Took Down’ a Speeder on Rt. 4

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  • PRINCE FREDERICK, MD.   In what should have been a routine speeding ticket has spiraled into social media brouhaha following a traffic stop on July 10, 2017, of a “commuter” by a Calvert Sheriff’s Deputy as the agency has become national media stars on a cable show that features law enforcement officers in six communities around the nation.

Calvert Sheriff’s Police Beat / Jawboning Speeder Adrian Hall Stirs Up Social Media Backlash Due to False Drug Alert When Calvert Deputies ‘Took Down’ a Speeder on Rt. 4

HAS LIVE PD TURNED CALVERT DEPUTIES
INTO NATIONAL STARS OR
UNCONSTITUTIONAL COWBOYS?

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PRINCE FREDERICK, MD.   In what should have been a routine speeding ticket has spiraled into social media brouhaha following a traffic stop on July 10, 2017, of a “commuter” by a Calvert Sheriff’s Deputy as the agency has become national media stars on a cable show that features law enforcement officers in six communities around the nation.

On LIVE PD, the officers are shown to be patient and courteous on traffic stops, not exactly what is described by an alleged speeder that Calvert Sheriff Evans failed to identify in a press release.

With Calvert Sheriff’s officials displaying a lack of ability to brush off criticism by the public online, the department has escalated what should have been just another alleged speeder into a celebrity. Or are Calvert Sheriff Evans and his commanders taking the social media attention as a way to cover up an illegal search and unconstitutional arrest that could cost Calvert taxpayers big bucks.

The man charged by Calvert Sheriff’s Deputy Denton with resisting arrest and obstructing and “hindering” their investigation, Adrian Hall, 32, of the District, is a self-described worker at the Cove Point Gas Plant, who commutes from Washington, D.C. five to six days a week for a long shift. Hall posted his account of his encounter with the deputies who star on LIVE PD each week on A & E national cable television. His version of the events is posted at the end of this news story.

During the stop a K-9 unit positively alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, giving probable cause for a search.”

Sheriff Mike Evans issued this statement on Sunday, July 16, 2017,”…the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office is aware of the various accusations being made by a commuter during a recent traffic stop in Calvert County.  The commuter was stopped during a laser enforced traffic initiative.  The speed was recorded as 76 mph in a 55-mph zone.  During the stop a K-9 unit positively alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, giving probable cause for a search.”

Hall says in his statement that he doesn’t drink or use drugs and doesn’t provide transportation for anyone other than his wife and children, thereby making it impossible for drugs to have been in his car in spite of the K-9 alert.  Hall states that his vehicle is a former police vehicle.  Police vehicles are routinely used to transport drug offenders and drugs and could easily account for a false drug alert by the K-9. 

If the LIVE PD camera crew was along for this traffic stop, the deterioration of the speeding event may be explained by deputies wishing to rack up another great clip for their electronic scrapbooks.

If the LIVE PD camera crew was along for this traffic stop, the deterioration of the speeding event may be explained by deputies wishing to rack up another great clip for their electronic scrapbooks.  When Hall’s attorney prepares his lawsuit against Sheriff Evans, the deputies and the taxpayers of Calvert County, undoubtedly there will be a disclosure of LIVE PD footage as well as dash cams and body-cam footage.

Police say that the “commuter” was allegedly on the phone with his wife during the encounter.  Use of a cell phone by a person in a speeding radar stop doesn’t violate Maryland law and, in fact, a phone can be used to record all of the interaction with the officer or to call a lawyer.

Sheriff Evans: “…his wife has an active order of protection against him.  Deputies began to investigate the protective order and the presence of narcotics.

 

Police also report that:  “…they learned during the stop that his wife has an active order of protection against him.  Deputies began to investigate the protective order and the presence of narcotics. “

There are no such protective orders in place in Maryland and in fact, the only charges, traffic or criminal, filed against Adrian Hall at any time in the State of Maryland were placed by Calvert Deputy Denton on July 10, 2017.

 

 There are no such protective orders in place in Maryland and in fact, the only charges, traffic or criminal, filed against Adrian Hall at any time in the State of Maryland were placed by Calvert Deputy Denton on July 10, 2017.

Police say that the alleged violation of the protective order is still under investigation but failed to disclose any details.

A protective order may have been obtained in the District.  Such an order issued during a domestic violence case forbids the alleged miscreant from any contact with the victim of the abuse – in any manner, in person, at work, at the residence or by email or phone.

District Court records do not reflect any such active charges.

District of Columbia criminal records reveal that a contempt charge filed again Adrian Hall on May 10, 2017, was dismissed by the court on June 16, 2017.

 

District of Columbia criminal records reveal that a contempt charge filed again Adrian Hall on May 10, 2017, was dismissed by the court on June 16, 2017.  Hall had entered a not guilty plea and was represented by attorney Fareed Hayat. Court records do not reflect any other details other than the trial set for July 14, 2017, had been canceled a month earlier.

This information might aid the investigation by the Calvert Sheriff’s Department and was available to the deputies on the scene of the speeding violation, as all of this information is posted online and all of the deputies have computers in their vehicles, provided by the taxpayers.

Sheriff Evans reports that the unnamed commuter: “…actively hindered that investigation by refusing to stop talking on the phone and allow a probable cause search to take place.  He was subsequently arrested and charged with hindering the drug investigation and resisting arrest.  He was also cited for speeding.”

Should the absence of “probable cause” of the search be determined, and if the search was carried out without the benefit of a Judge signing a search warrant, the lack of any drugs found in the vehicle will be immaterial, however the information will be valuable in a Civil Rights action against the Calvert County Sheriff’s Department.

 “Although we have not yet received a specific complaint, we take these accusations on social media very seriously.  An investigation into the events that occurred during the stop was immediately initiated and is ongoing.  Once all of the facts are gathered a more detailed response will follow.    The Sheriff’s Office has every intention of keeping this investigation as transparent as possible.” – the statement from Sheriff Evans.   

Demonstrating that he fails to understand the political and hysterical use by politicians of the word “transparent,” Sheriff Evans did not identify the “commuter” in his press release. 

For Sheriff Evans to identify the “commuter” would have been “transparent.”

From Adrian Hall on LinkedIn

Adrian Hall from LinkedIn commuter arrest by Calvert Sheriff on July 10, 2017

My experience with Calvert County Sheriffs on Monday, July 10th, 2017

Hello, my name is Adrian A. Hall. On Monday, July 10th, 2017 at around 6:45 am, the start of an unnecessary day began.

I am a member of the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers a part of the International Union of Bricklayers and work as a mason for JT Thorpe & Son at IHI Kiewit located at Cove Point in Lusby, Maryland.

I drive a 60-mile commute every morning which is around an hour of a commute one way for me. I leave between 5:30 AM and 5:45 AM. I arrive at an offsite where I park my car usually between 6:45 AM and 7 AM. I get on a shuttle bus that takes me from the offsite parking lot to the work site, where I walk the rest of the way and sign in before 7:30 AM. I get back home sometime around 7 PM. We work ten hours a day (scheduled) at five to six days a week.

So on Monday, July 10th, 2017 at around 6:45 am, I was within the last 10-15 miles or so before I got to work. Google Maps said that I’d arrive around 7:05 am, so I was within a good time. I was on route 4 (which turns into route 2) behind a minivan and a few other cars for a while (maybe 20 miles or so). A Calvert County Sheriff vehicle made a right turn onto my road ahead of traffic. As a response, all cars slowed down to a bit under 50MPH in a 55MPH zone.

The Calvert County Sheriff started driving slowly onto the road and then proceeded to accelerate to ride with the flow of traffic. He then rode along the right side of my vehicle, looked inside, then lagged back, pulled behind me, and turned his lights on to pull me over. I was on the phone (hands-free Bluetooth device) with my wife, Tantalia A. Hall, for the majority of the trip.

The officer walked to my passenger side and was hostile. He yelled at me saying that he pulled me over because I was speeding. I asked him how if I had been behind other vehicles. He said to me that I was the lead vehicle, and I stated that I had been behind the same van for a while and that I saw him when he actually pulled onto the road. He told me that he’s not going to argue back and forward with me and that I was wrong. He then asked for my license and registration.

I gave him my license and registration and he walked back to his vehicle. After about 20 minutes of waiting, I noticed that other Calvert County Sheriff/Police vehicles had gathered. I then asked my wife if I can call her back while I dialed 911 about this.

When I dialed 911, the emergency service operator was also very hostile. I tried to tell her about the situation and how I felt uncomfortable. She asked if I would like to file a complaint, and I told her that the situation is still in process. She kept cutting me off, raising her voice, and being extremely incoherent. She also said a few times that I was being recorded and I told her that she was as well. She then got upset with me even more and effectively “hung up on me” by putting me on a very long hold. So I then ended the call and called my wife back so that she could be on the line with me.

After another 10 minutes or so of waiting, the officer came back to the driver’s side of my vehicle and told me to step out of my car. I asked him why, and he said that I would find out soon from another officer.

I stepped out of my car and walked towards the other officer. I was told to stand in front of the police car. I was still on the phone with my wife as she heard what was going on. We both spoke about how this situation was ridiculous and how they couldn’t actively just search my vehicle. They brought a German Shepherd over to my car, who just passed it by as they walked it back.

They continued to stomp, kick, and punch me saying “take him down!” while other officers were laughing. I felt blunt objects striking me on my left leg and on my head.

 

I kept my phone in my hand, and another officer grabbed my hand and said “FUCK that!” and started swinging at me while grabbing my phone. I asked him what he was doing, and he was too busy trying to take my phone while hitting me in the head, arms, and trying to kick me. The other officers came and grabbed my arms and legs, then pushed me to the ground. They continued to stomp, kick, and punch me saying “take him down!” while other officers were laughing. I felt blunt objects striking me on my left leg and on my head.

They placed handcuffs on me while still attacking me on the ground. I asked why they were doing this and they said I was under arrest. I asked under what charge, and they said: “because I was resisting arrest.” What?

The other officers said, “we got another one” and made all kinds of inside jokes that were obviously racist as I was escorted back to the police vehicles. They took off my shoes, and searched my body, groping me everywhere and said “He MUST have something on him!” and proceeded to enter my vehicle. Just a reminder, I was pulled over for speeding.

They stripped the seats and tore the interior of my car. Trashed everything from the glove compartment to the trunk of my car with all of my work tools. One of the officers told me that the dogs went crazy because it’s obvious that I was hiding something. For ANYONE who knows me even remotely, they understand these very points:

-I’ve never smoked.

-I’ve never drank.

-I’ve never done any drugs.

-I’ve never stolen anything in my life.

-I’ve never bought or sold any drugs.

I’ve lived by this my entire life of 32 years now. This does not mean that I look down on anyone who has done any of these things. It’s just not my thing. Of the many reasons why I don’t, one of the ones I usually tell people aside from the lack of benefits from any of these things is that my ancestors did not spend time being oppressed and slaved for me to waste the few years I have of life contributing these things in my life. So I refuse.

Back to the situation, one of the sheriffs kept trying to suggest through his blatant, consistent, and incompetent fallacies that I was hiding something in my vehicle. I told him I was not, and he kept manipulating his suggestions that someone riding in my car had something or the previous owner had something. I told him, no, for one, not many people ride in my vehicle. Especially of that caliber. Secondly, my car is a former police car. I’m the only true domestic owner.

Even still, he continued to go down a list of co-workers, friends, family members that may have driven my car or hidden something in my car without me knowing. I told him that I’ve never driven any of my co-workers in my car, and the only other people who ride in it are my children.

So they took my wallet and my phone, placed everything in evidence bags, put me in the back of their car, and drove me to the Calvert County Detention Center. Keep in mind, I was pulled over for speeding.

When we arrived, they chained and cuffed me to the walls and benches. They tried to intimidate me with words, stating that I was a criminal who shouldn’t have given them any trouble, that I would be there for years because of my behavior, and that I must have an ongoing history of criminal activity. I asked them why they would say that, and the response I was given was “because they know my kind.”

So, then they kept telling me they wanted to do more searches on me. Strip searches and lots of questions while having grins on their faces. I told them I wanted to make phone calls to my wife and to my lawyer. They told me that I don’t have that right. I said that I don’t want to continue any further without someone that I can trust present. They said that I cannot do anything until I speak with the commissioner, which may not be today or even tomorrow. Then they told me “You don’t have any rights. We work differently.” and I said, “I bet.”…keep in mind…I was pulled over…for speeding…

They continued to go on by saying I was being uncooperative, and that I didn’t have control of the situation. Told me that they were afraid for their safety and that’s why they need to search me. They went on about their safety and how I was a threat. I asked how could I be a threat when I’m chained, cuffed, in a secured facility with multiple gates, outnumbered, and everyone has guns. I asked what could I be hiding if they already took everything and searched me. They said that I could be hiding something dangerous inside my body…keep in mind…I was pulled over for speeding…

One of the officers kept saying that his 14 years of experience told him that I was hiding something because I didn’t want to be strip searched. I told him that it’s not really that complicated. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, and I wanted to have a phone call to my wife and lawyer before complying with any more violations. They left me for hours saying that I have no rights at all and that they run everything. The entire time I was there, they kept telling me that I must have done something, or I wouldn’t be there. I got tired of that.

Later on, I asked what was required of the search and told them I didn’t want anyone touching me anymore. They agreed and had me do a strip search which required me to give them my clothes to check for items. Afterward, they returned my clothes minus my shoes and belt. They then took me for fingerprinting.

At some point, I saw the commissioner on a TV screen, who already had a court date and my charges in front of him. I was cuffed before him and told about how I am a criminal and that I needed to sign papers for my upcoming court date on Wednesday, August 30th, 2017.

He then asked if I had spoken to my lawyer and if he’d be on his way anytime soon. I told him that I wasn’t given “permission” to speak to anyone at all. He paused and asked if I would like to attempt to get in touch with my lawyer and that I had 24 hours to do so. I told him that I would like to reach my lawyer, and he told me I could. He went on to say that if I can’t reach him, I have the option to come right back and continue without my lawyer present.

I was cuffed to a wall and desk. I went to call my lawyer and the phones were terrible. Every time I tried to make a call, they didn’t go through. When I FINALLY got a call through to my wife, the recording said we had one minute to speak. After maybe 20-30 seconds, it said we had 15 seconds left and then the call dropped. I could not reach her again. I barely got time to tell her that I was okay, in Calvert County Detention Center, and that I needed her to call my lawyer.

After trying to reach her again and call my lawyer for about 30-40 minutes, I eventually gave up. I asked to go back to the commissioner, and one of the officers told me to wait (while I was still cuffed and chained to the wall and desk).

I asked to use the restroom, and the officer asked how long I’d be. I told him maybe 20-30 seconds, and he said okay. He then took me to my cell. It was about 2:20 PM according to their clock, and he told me that I’d have to wait until after 3 PM to see the commissioner. He left me there for 2 hours before the shift changed and a different officer came after I knocked on the cell door. He told me that the last officer said that I was trying to contact my lawyer…there was no phone in my cell, and I asked how was I supposed to do that if I was locked in a room for the last few hours? So, then he asked if I were ready to go back to the commissioner, and I said yes.

I met with a different commissioner this time. He asked about my background history and work status, criminal activity, and whether or not I understood that I was being detained as a criminal. He then told me about my upcoming court date and told me the consequences of missing the court date. I want to mention this again. I was pulled over for speeding, yet this was never brought up in any way. I was never even told why I was being arrested, to begin with. The charges were that I resisted arrest and impeded an investigation. They didn’t talk about what the investigation was for or anything about me speeding.

I left with, from what I could see and remember at the time, all of my belongings. As soon as I was escorted out of the detention center, I started my walk at about 4:30 PM and called my wife.

I got to my car at about 5:45 PM-5:50 PM after non-stop walking in my work attire from the Calvert County Detention Center all the way down Route 4/2 until I got to my car. I took pictures of the results, got in my car, and drove home. I got back sometime after 7 PM.

 

  • PRINCE FREDERICK, MD.   In what should have been a routine speeding ticket has spiraled into social media brouhaha following a traffic stop on July 10, 2017, of a “commuter” by a Calvert Sheriff’s Deputy as the agency has become national media stars on a cable show that features law enforcement officers in six communities around the nation.

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